How to Print Double-Sided on Windows and Mac

1What this lesson covers

This lesson explains how to print double-sided, also called duplex printing, so a long document uses half the paper. If your printer has automatic duplex, it flips each sheet for you and you only need to turn the option on. If it doesn’t, you can still print both sides by printing the odd pages, turning the stack over and printing the even pages. You’ll also learn the long-edge and short-edge choice that decides which way the back pages face.

2Before you start

Find out whether your printer has automatic duplex. The product specifications on the manufacturer’s site or in the manual will say “automatic two-sided printing” or “auto duplex” if it does. You can also look in the print dialog: an option like Print on both sides or Two-Sided usually means it’s supported.

If you’re not sure where your print dialog’s options are, print settings explained walks through them first.

Use ordinary plain paper for two-sided printing. Very thin paper can show ink through, and photo paper, labels and envelopes aren’t meant for duplex.

3Print double-sided automatically

1. Open the print dialog in your app with File, then Print.
2. Find the two-sided option. On Windows, it’s often a menu that says Print one sided in the main dialog, or under Printer properties or Preferences on a Layout or Finishing tab. On a Mac, the dialog has a Two-Sided or Double-sided option, sometimes after clicking Show Details, or in the Layout section.
3. Choose the flip direction. Flip on long edge suits normal portrait documents, like a book. Flip on short edge suits landscape pages or documents bound at the top, like a notepad.
4. Print. You should see: the printer print one side, pull the sheet back in briefly, and print the other side. It’s normal for the page to pause partway out while the ink dries.

4Print double-sided manually

Use this method when your printer has no automatic duplex.

1. Look for a manual option first. Some apps and drivers offer Manually print on both sides, which prints one side, then shows a message telling you how to reload the paper. If you see it, choose it and follow the on-screen prompt.
2. Otherwise, print odd pages only. In the print dialog, find the option to print odd pages. In many Windows apps it’s a pages menu next to the page range; on a Mac, open Paper Handling and set Pages to Print to Odd Only.
3. Take the printed stack out without shuffling it. Keep the pages in the order they came out.
4. Reload the stack for the other side. How you turn it depends on your printer’s paper path. Your practice run, or the printer’s manual, tells you which side faces up and which edge goes in first.
5. Print even pages only. Choose Even Only in the same place. If your document has an odd number of pages, add a blank sheet to the bottom of the reloaded stack, or remove the last odd page before reloading, depending on how your printer stacks pages.

You should see: each even page printed on the back of the odd page before it.

5Check that it worked

Hold the first sheet up. You should see: page 1 on the front and page 2 on the back, both the same way up when you turn the sheet like a book page (long edge) or a notepad page (short edge). Check the last sheet as well to make sure the final page landed where you expected.

6Troubleshooting

• The two-sided option is missing. Your printer may not support automatic duplex, or a basic driver is installed. Use the manual method, or install the manufacturer’s software for your model.
• Back pages are upside down. Switch between long-edge and short-edge flipping, or turn the stack the other way for manual duplex.
• Paper jams during duplex. Use plain paper of the weight the manual recommends, and don’t overfill the tray. See how to fix a paper jam.
• Ink smudges on the back. Choose a slightly longer dry time if your driver offers it, or use normal rather than best quality for text.
• Every job is double-sided now. Duplex was turned on in the printer’s default preferences. Turn it off there if you want single-sided as the default.
• You only want some pages double-sided. Print those pages as a separate job using a page range; see how to print selected pages.

7When to get more help

If automatic duplex starts jamming every time, makes grinding noises or reports a duplex unit error after a restart, stop using duplex and contact the manufacturer’s support. The duplex path is inside the printer; clear only the jam areas the manual shows.

8FAQ

Is double-sided printing slower?

Yes, a little. Automatic duplex pauses to let the first side dry and to flip the sheet, so each page takes longer.

Can I make double-sided printing the default?

Yes. On Windows, set it in the printer’s Printing preferences; on a Mac, save a preset with Two-Sided turned on. Apps will then start with it switched on.

Which flip option should I choose for a normal document?

Long edge. It works like a book: you turn the page sideways and the back is the right way up.

Can I print double-sided on envelopes or photo paper?

Generally no. Check your manual’s paper list, which shows the paper types each printer can print on both sides.